STF#8 - 2023: Workshops
ZH07Robotic Fabrication for Industrialised Building Components
SOLD OUT
Delivered by Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE), AKTII and Rhino Developers, McNeel
Architectural Geometry (AG) focuses on the synthesis of shapes that guarantee structural and fabrication optimality. It is also closely aligned with and complementary to the development of robotic and digital fabrication (RDF) technologies and design methods. The workshop will explore the relevance of this state-of-the-art design and construction paradigm in the realm of complex, multi-objective, precision manufactured, computational geometry projects.
Specifically, the workshop is a collaborative design exercise exploring the design space of topologies that seeks synergies of tacit mesh modelling with computational form-finding, digital timber, and mass customisation of a kit of parts for industrial building components using RDF.
The 2-day workshop will provide a hands-on, introductory experience to prepare for both the imminent future of architectural design and construction and architectural practise; The content and tool-chains of the workshop are representative of the state-of-the-art in the AEC industry as it shifts from Building Information Modelling (BIM) for documentation to Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA)/ industrialised construction (IC) paradigm.
Workshop Affiliation: Zaha Hadid Architects Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE)
Schedule: Workshop comprised of creation of a common demonstrator with tutorials exposing students to same tools, and skills utilised for fabrication.
- Day 1 – Studio Component: Modelling; Fabrication Component: Fabricate components
- Day 2 – Studio Component: Robot Simulation; Fabrication Component: Fabricate and assemble components
Additional Workshop Team:
Aditya Bhosle completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Pune University, India in 2011. He worked as an architect in India for three years before completing his master’s degree in Architecture and Urbanism DRL at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, London in 2016. Aditya is a Senior designer at Zaha Hadid Architects, Computation and Design Group (ZHA CODE) since 2021. Currently he leads the setup of a robotic fabrication lab for ZHA. Previously he worked as an Architect/Computational Designer at UHA London. Aditya was the project lead at Mamou-Mani Architects for architectural and digital fabrication projects in UK and abroad. He was one of project leads for the design, project coordination and on-site construction of the Burning man temple 2018 (Galaxia).
Matt Walker is an architectural assistant in Zaha Hadid Architects’ Computation and Design Research Group (CODE). He specialises in the timber technologies framework in the team and contributes to wider fabrication-aware methodologies across a range of projects at ZHA. His interests are in mass timber design for complex geometries and robot and numeric control fabrication of such, as well as developing parametric tools for mass customisation, and optimisation methods to assess parts and assemblies in real time.
Taizhong Chen is part of the Computation and Design Research group at ZHA (CODE). Since 2019, he has worked professionally on various project types, installations, and exhibitions across Asia and Europe. His interests are in computational and architectural geometry, geometry processing for design and rationalisation, structure and fabrication aware design, digital and robotic fabrication.
Anticipated Workshop Output
Robotic Hot Wire Cut (RWHC) – residential fitout personalisation & combinatorics
Design Friendly Interface for Spatial Networks – Timber
Dual Material- Dual Assembly Building Construction Components for Structural and Interior
Requirements:
Applicable Software:
- Rhinoceros 7.0
- Grasshopper
- Autodesk Maya 2020+
SOLD OUT

Vishu Bhooshan is an Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects, Computation and Design Group (ZHA CODE) in London. He leads the design research with computational geometries with specific interest on structure and fabrication aware tectonics. He also leads the development of a software agnostic computational framework to explore the above. Since joining ZHA in 2013, he has been involved in several architectural design competitions and commissions ranging from research prototypes, products, galleries, stadiums, bridges, metro stations, residential buildings, masterplans as well as designing for the metaverse & gaming industry.

Henry David Louth is an Associate at Zaha Hadid Architects and co-leads the day-to-day operation of the Computation and Design Group (ZHACODE). He is a registered architect in the US and a LEED Accredited Professional with over 16 years of professional experience in the AEC industry. Currently he leads the residential applications, game and spatial technology sectors within ZHACODE with a research focus toward digital timber and fabrication technologies, data driven design, modular and prefabricated planning . His computational interests include differential geometry, digital simulation and approximation, workflow planning and strategy, and curve crease folding (CCF) applications.

Danae Polyviou is currently an Associate at AKTII leading the structural engineering team of P.Art. She has worked in Stuttgart and Berlin for a few years before moving to London. She is a Course Lecturer of Technical Studies at the Architectural Association (AA) and AADRL and a Technical Tutor at the Bartlett School of Architecture- UCL. She has tutored at the RCA, Westminster and Cardiff Universities and is a guest critic at IAAC Barcelona. She has participated in workshops such as Smart Geometry and AAG and research workshops.
Supported by:

Luis Fraguada – McNeel. Luis is a creative developer based in Barcelona, Spain. Background in architecture (buildings) and software development.
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